Aintree protest target

AINTREE racecourse and Merseyside police are bracing themselves for what animal rights protesters are threatening will be the biggest ever demonstration against the Martell Grand National in April.

Animal Aid, which claims to be the largest animal rights group in Britain, is urging its supporters to descend on Aintree for a `peaceful protest' to enforce its message that the world's most famous steeplechase "brings shame on Britain as a nation of animal lovers."

The Kent-based organisation is also starting a chain e-mail, which includes 10 highly controversial reasons "why you should be there," aimed at persuading more people to travel to Aintree to protest.

The claims made by Animal Aid, including that 300 horses are raced to death every year, 4,000 foals a year are put down and that £1 million is spent on "painful experiments" to horses, prompted the Jockey Club yesterday to go on a PR offensive.

John Maxse, the club's public relations director, said: "Most of the claims made by Animal Aid have no basis in fact and are a combination of misinformation and sweeping generalisations.

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"It is frustrating that they try to attack racing in this manner as I genuinely believe we ought to have much in common with them as we too believe that a horse's welfare should be the first priority.

"I intend to try and open up some dialogue with Animal Aid in the hope that we can clearly demonstrate that many of their claims are incorrect.

"If they could see for themselves the welfare measures taken both on and off course, they would find it hard to support their own allegations.

"Thanks to racing, thousands of horses receive a level of care and attention and enjoy a quality of life better than any other domestic animal in this country."

On its website, Animal Aid says: "If you find you can't bear to watch the horrors of the race unfold from your living room, be there on the day instead to make a stand against it.

"We can safely predict that over the three-day meet, there will be numerous injuries and deaths.

"The aim of the campaign has always been to undercut support for the Grand National and to impress upon the public that there is no such thing as a `harmless flutter.' "

Charles Barnett, clerk of the course at Aintree, was alerted to Animal Aid's intentions earlier this week and has already been in touch with Merseyside police and racing authorities.

A Merseyside police spokeswoman said yesterday: "We are aware of plans to demonstrate this year at Aintree. We recognise that they have the right to peaceful protest and we have plans in place to deal with any eventuality."